Local Candidate Forums Connect Youth With Political Process

The Reno News & Review, the Holland Project, ThisisReno.com, Washoe County Library System, and KWNK Community Radio are partnering by hosting three political candidate forums prior to the primary election.

The non-partisan forums are open to all candidates running for the Washoe Board of County Commissioners, Reno City Council, and Reno Mayor.

The Speak Youth to Power Forums will center around issues affecting or impacting young voters (with young adults serving as participants and moderators).

While this event is youth-centered, it will be open and encouraged for all members of the public to attend. This is not a debate but a forum for candidates to address issues relevant to the race. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions as well.

Journalists from the Reno News & Review and ThisisReno will also be participating, including livestreaming the event by video to social media and recording for re-broadcast on KWNK.

The events are free but with a suggested donation of $1 for students and $3 general. Proceeds will benefit KWNK, a non-profit community radio station.

Bob Conrad is co-founder of ThisisReno. He manages ThisisReno and Conrad Communications, LLC, his marketing communications consulting company. He also works part time for the University of Nevada, Reno.

Once at the forum, do your best to ask a cogent question and politely listen to the questions and answers from others. At a recent forum, I noticed that many of the candidates were all cheery and friendly when asked to go before the group to speak, yet when many sat back down, they ignored what everyone else was saying as they fiddled with their phones or talked loudly to those seated next to them (while others were at the podium speaking). Rude behavior by candidates while they are not the center of attention speaks volumes to me regarding their aptitude for holding a public office. I also note the punctuality of the candidates. One woman candidate arrived late, sat down without even greeting the hostess, immediately started playing with her phone, then when she was called to the podium out of order because of her tardiness, she took longer than the allotted time. She sat down and immediately started playing with her phone again. She didn’t stay around to meet citizens, but instead sneaked out the back door a few minutes after her intro speech. I do not think anyone at that forum will be voting for that unbelievably rude woman. I won’t mention her name. Perhaps she will behave differently after reading this, though I doubt it. Such rude people rarely recognize their bad behavior, even when someone points it out to them, plus this is Reno, where, “please” “thank-you” and “excuse me” are considered foreign phrases by the 20-50 year-olds.

Hi Bob I am interested in the event at the library on May 3rd for commissioners. I am a candidate for district 3. I will be attending the Red Mass for Government officials and law enforcement at 5 to 615pm at St Thomas Cathedral on 2nd and Arlington. If I could get to the library at 630 would it disrupt the event.